Well drilling system



Sept. 15, 1936. G. F. LE Bus WELL DRILLING SYSTE IM Filed Aug. 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

@ 25 ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1936. G us 2,054,223

WELL DRILLING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 50, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: George Z'Ieflua;

@is ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to well-drilling operations and more particularly to the drilling of oil wells and the like by the rotary drilling process. It has to do with the method and means for adding joints or sections of drill stem tubing or pipes to the string in the well bore during the drilling operation, whereby to minimize time, dispense with unnecessary labor, and avoid and overcome hazards usually incidental and common to such operations.

In the system and method heretofore employed in adding to the string of pipe or tubular drill stem during the drilling operation, it is the customary practice to lift the string until the part or section commonly termed the grief or kelley, which is usually of square cross-section or provided with a longitudinally extending groove or key-way, is clear of the bushing or other device in the rotary machine by which the drill stem string is rotated, after which step slips or wedge devices are inserted in the bushing or opening in the rotary machine for holding the string in such raised position, it being, of course, understood that during this time the rotary driving means is not operating. The grief or kelley is next disconnected from the drill stem string, hoisted and swung aside, and then lowered into a tubular receptacle or hole at the side of the derrick floor, said receptacle or hole being termed a rathole and of a depth substantially that of the grief" or kelley, which latter may be of a length vary ing from twenty-eight (28) feet to fifty-one (51) feet in length, depending upon the character of the formations and depths of the wells to be drilled.

After the grief or kelley is thus deposited, the hoisting cable blocks are unhooked from the 'swivel element which is left attached to the grief or kelley and the blocks then swung over and attached to an elevator element which has previously been secured to a joint or section of pipe to be added to the string in the well.- This joint or section is then hoisted from the derrick floor where it had been preparatorily placed, swung into line with the string in the well and then coupled to the protruding end portion of the uppermost joint or section of the string.

After the joint is added to the, string as just above described, the hoisting cable blocks are unhooked from the elevator element and swung over and lowered to be engaged with the bail of the swivel element on the grief or kelley" which is located in the rathole". The grief or "ke1ley is next hoisted and carried over into line with the string in the well and then attached to the added joint or section of pipe. In this connection, it may be here noted that the string of pipe in the well, with the added joint or section, may be first lowered before attaching the grief or kelley. That is to say, the string may be lowered until only a portion of the added joint or section protrudes above the rotary machine sufiicient for the application of the slips or supporting wedge elements and for attaching the grief or kelley thereabove. In some cases, however, the grief or kelley may be attached to the added joint or section while the string is in its raised position to which it was brought for the addition of the joint or section thereto as herein first described, which, of course, necessitates the use of a raised platform or support for the operator in effecting the connection between the upper end portion of the added joint or section of the string of pipe and the .grief or kelley at the elevation where it is made.

After the grief or kelley is thus connected the slips or retaining wedge elements are removed, the string being lifted slightly for the accomplishment thereof, and the string then lowered until the cutting bit or tool at the lower end of the string is resting upon the bottom of the bore in the formation being drilled, at which time, of course, the grief or kelley is in working relation in the bushing or other device in the rotary machine which rotates the string of drill stem pipes or tubing as hereinbefore described. The drilling operation is then resumed.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that considerable time is required in process of adding a joint or section of pipe. Not only is the time consumed to be considered, but the labor connected therewith and certain hazards incidental thereto is of serious consideration.

In many instances, in drilling through certain formations, much difliculty and trouble occurs due to sand cavings, because it is obviously necessary toshut off the supply of fluid, or "mud as it is more commonly termed, while adding a. joint or section of pipe, and, of course, the pump being shut down, there is no circulation of the I fluid in the well bore. Consequently there is possibility of the loose sand from the formation settling and packing at the bottom of the bore. As will be later more fully set forth, the present invention reduces the time and labor in effecting V the addition of a pipe joint or section to such degree that the'difliculty just above noted is avoided, and, further, the necessity for providing the receptacle, or rathole as it is generally termed,

is obviated, as well as simplifying the process in general in adding the joint or section of pipe.

The present invention consists in the improved system, method and means-hereinafter described and afterwards set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of the present invention,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an ordinary oil well derrick, more or less conventional and schematic in its showing, to aid in an understanding of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, to illustrate a practical means and method of carrying out the invention; 4

Figure 3 is a side elevation of. a form of bushing for the rotary machine which rotates the drill stem or string of pipes through the intermediary of the key member of the string or the element commonly termed the grief or kelley;

Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the bailsor links used in connection with the elevator element;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of an elevator element detached;

Figure 6 is a view, more or less schematic in character, illustrative of a preferred arrangement of hoisting line or cable for handling the elevator element and its cooperating bails or links when separated from the assembly shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the rotary table or element of the machine which rotates the drill stem string in the well;

looped about the sheaves of the crown block 2 and.

, ment.5. ried down from the crown block, as at B, and at- Figure 8 is a top plan view of a preferred modification of the bushing for the rotary machine; Figure 9 is a similar view of the bushing with its two half sections separated;

Figure 10 is a vertical section of the bushing shown in Figure 8, on an enlarged scale;

' Figure 11 is a vertical section of one of the bushing members detached;

Figure 12 is a view, partly in side elevation andv partly in section, of the outer collar member of' the bushing shown in Figures 8 and 10; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view illustratinga modification of the means for'carrying the added pipe joint or section on the grief or kelley section of the drill stem in accordance with the present invention.

- Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Figure 1 thereof, the numeral I designates an ordinaryoil well derrick or the like. At

the top of the derrick is the usual crown block 2 which carries the hoisting and lowering cable designated generally by the numeral 3. This cable, in accordance with the usual practice, is

lower pulley blocks 4 which carry the hook ele- The unlooped portion of the cable is cartached to and wound about the drum member or winch of the draw works or power mechanism act-ages common type of bushing and drill stem section usually employed in well drilling. However, in this connection, it may be here noted'that one type of drill stem section is of round cross section and provided with a longitudinal groove or keyway which cooperates with a corresponding keyor spline in the opening of the bushing or device in the rotary table 9 so as to rotate the drill stem while permitting endwise movement of the stem through the bushing or driving device. The stem section I I is commonly termed a grief or kelley and will be generally referred to as such herein. The drill stem section I I, of course, is provided with a longitudinal bore, and it is coupled at its lower end portion to the upper end of the next uppermost joint or section I2 of the drill stem tubing or pipe, as at I3. The well bore is indicated at I4.

The upper end portion of the drill stem section I I is coupled to the swivel element I5, as at I6, in the usual manner, and said swivel, which is provided with an internal passageway, is connected by the flexible hose I1 and pipe I8 to a pump I9. The pump l9 has two suction pipes 20, 2 I, through which the drilling and wall sustaining fluid, or

mud as it is commonly termed, is drawn from the slush pit 22.

Thefluid from the pit .22 is forced through the pipe I8 and hose I 1 into the swivel I5 and through the drill stem string down to the bottom of the well bore, discharged into the bore through the drill bit or tool and circulated upwardly through the bore in the space between the drill stem string and wall of the bore, thereby clearing the drill bit or tool of the cuttings or detritusand supporting the wall of the well bore against collapsing or caving. The mud-laden liquid is supplied originally to the slush pit 22 through a mixing device (not shown) and the overflow as the liquid rises in the well bore is carried through a flume back to the slush pit, and during its passage thus to the pit the detritus and foreign particles in the fluid settle to the bottom of the flume and bottom of the pit. In this connection, it may be here noted that it is essential to successful drilling operations that the supply of the mud-laden liquid be maintained uninterruptedly, particularly in drilling through soft or sand formations; and, as hereinbefore stated, the time usually required in the process of adding joints or sections to the drill stem tubing or pipe is of such duration that caving occurs, because, obviously, the pump I9 is shut down and there is no circulation of the liquid through the drill stem string and the well bore during that period.

In accordance with the present invention, which is brought about to avoid the hazards incidental to the system and method of adding pipe joints or sections, by simplifying the procedure and means for accomplishing the work in adding the joints or sections, a special bushing I0 is employed, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. This bushing, in general, is similar to the ordinary bushing, in that it has a square or polygonal upper portion 23 to fit in a counterpart seat or socket in the rotary table or element 9, and a substantially frustro conical lowerportion 24, with an opening 25 therethrough of either square cross section, as shown, for a drill stem section II of correspondingly square cross section, or, obviously, of round cross section and provided with a key or spline to cooperate with a keyway in another type of drill stem element.

The bushing ID, in accordance with the present invention, is sleeved on the drill stem element 11 (see'Figure 2) and retained thereon by the coupling sub pin member 26 which is screwed on the lower end portion of the "grief or kelley or drill stem element II and has tobe removed for the placement and removal of the bushing ID if made in one integral piece as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is preferable, however, to make the bushing in two half-sections 21, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, the upper portion 23 of each member being generally rectangular or polygonal and the lower, portion 28 being semi-cylindrical and externally screw-threaded, as at 29, and forming a complete cylindrical shank when the two sections are joined for the reception of an outer securing collar 30 -(see Figures 10 .and 12) which is internally screw-threaded, as at 3|, to engage the threads 29, and has a tapered circumference. In this modification of the bushing the collar member 30 is readily removable from the members 21 and slipped over the sub pin member 26 and the members 21 separated and removed laterally from the grief or kelley without necessitating the removal of the sub pin member 26.

I The bushing ill of the present invention, in either orany modification thereof, is provided with a pair of oppositely projected arms 32 having cross bars at their ends, as at 33. These arms 32 are provided for the releasable attachment of bails or link members 34 which are respectively attached to opposite sides of an elevator element 35 of any ordinary or approved type. Preferably, however, the elevator employed is of the two half section type hinged together at one side, as at 36, and fastened at the opposite side by a latch member 31 which, in practice, is usually spring retained in closed position and readily released, at will, by an operator. At transversely opposite sides the elevator element is provided with pairs of ears or lugs 38 between which the lower end portions of the bails or link members 34 are loosely placed and retained by cross bolts or bars 39. Said elevator members are also preferably provided with handle members 40 for convenience in opening and closing the elevator half sections, and, as just above stated, the general construction .and ar- V rangement is that ordinarily used for lifting and members 34 are also provided on opposite sides 4 with hook members 42 for the attachment of parts ofthe same cable or line in certain manipulation and handling of the elevator element 35.

In carrying out the present invention, the bushing I is maintained in place on the grief or kelley section of the drill stem throughout the drilling operation and while the process of adding a pipe joint or section is going on.

Normally, during the drilling operation, the

bushing I0 is located in the seat or socket, indicated at 43, in the rotary table or element 9 (see Figure 7 and the grief or kelley section of the drill stem is working through the opening 25 of the bushing in the ordinary way, it being, of course, understood that the bail 44 of the swivel element I is engagd and supported by the hook member s of the G ne blocks 4. While the drilling operation is going on a joint or section of pipe to be added to the drill stem string is laid preparatorily in a convenient place on the derrick floor with an elevator element 35 applied, the bails or link members 34 being attached to the elevator element.

When the well has-been drilled down to the depth requiring the addition of apipe joint or section, the entire string is raised to a" suflicient height to bring the pipe joint or section next uppermost to the grief or kelley with its upper end portion above the rotary table or element 9, the bushing H], of course, being carried up with the grief or kelley section and supported on the sub pin member 26. After the string is thus raised slips or wedge members 41 are inserted in the seat or socket opening of the rotary table 9, about the uppermost pipe joint or section, so as to hold the string in its raised position.

The sub pin member 26 is then disconnected from the pipe coupling box member 49 of the uppermost pipe joint or section 50 which is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the slips or wedge members being indicated, as at 41. As soon as the sub pin member 26 is disconnected from the coupling box member 49, the grief or kelley, with the bushing l0 thereon, is swung over and lowered until the bails or link members 34 can be readily slipped onto the arms 32 of the bushing l0, whereupon the grief or kelley s hoisted, carrying with it the pipe joint or section to be added to the string in the well. When thus lifted, the grief or kelley, with the pipe joint or section suspended therefrom, through the intermediary of the bails or link members 34 and elevator element 35, is swung back into line with the string of drill stem pipe in the well. Then the grief or kelley is lowered until the tool pin sub 48 on the pipe joint or section 46 to be added can be attached to the tool coupling box member 49 on the uppermost pipe joint or section 50.

After the pipe connection has been effected, as just above described, the slips or wedge members 41 are removed, the string being, of course, raised slightly to accomplish this, and the string with the added joint or section is lowered until the coupling box 45 of the added joint or section is just a suflicient height above the rotary table 9 for the interposition of the slips or wedge members 41 to again hold the string of drill stem pipe while the grief or kelley section is being lowered and the sub pinmember 26 is being attached to the tool coupling box member 45.

The attachment of the sub pin member 26 to the coupling box member 45 being effected the drilling operation can be immediately resumed.

To remove the elevator element 35, which is quickly accomplished, it is only necessary to first release the latch member 31 and attach the auxiliary hoisting cable or line 5| commonly termed the'catline or weight line of the usual well drilling derrick outfit to the hook member 4| of the elevator element 35 and also to one of the hooks 42 of each of the bails or link members 34, and for this purpose it is preferable to provide the catline or weight line with three terminals, one with a ring 52 for attachment to the hook member 4| and the two others with rings 53 for attachment to the hooks 42. By this provision, when the line is pulled upwardly by the hoisting means, the pull on, the hook 4| automatically opens the elevator members on their hinge 3B and the elevator element 35 is pulled clear of the pipe joint or section 46, while the pull on the hooks 42 elevates the bails or link members 34 so that an operator can readily detach them from the arms 32 of the bushing l0.

' After the, elevator element and bails or link members are thus detached they are swung over to .where another pipe joint or section to be added has been laid conveniently on the floor, of the derrick and the elevator element then applied, and soon during the drilling operation.

In actual practice there is a great saving in time in adding pipe joints or section to the string in the well, which saving alone is an important advantage in the employment of the present invention, but the necessity for providing the receptacle for holding the grief or kelley during the process of adding the joint or section of pipe is'obviated, as well as practically overcoming the possibility of sand caving in the well bore.

In some cases, two elevator elements may be employed in accordance with the present invention, as indicated in Figure 13 of the drawings. In such cases, the bushing I is not carried by the grief or kelley during the process of adding the pipe joint or section, the bushing being of the usual two half section type and withdrawn from the seat or socket 43 in the rotary table or element 9 of the machine which rotates the drill stem and laid aside until the joint or section of pipe has been added to the string in the well. In this modification, an elevator element 35 is attached to the pipe joint or section to be added, in the same manner as in the process first herein described, the bails or link members 34 being attached at their upper ends to the second elevator element 35, which latter element is obviously applied quickly to the grief or kelley after the latter is swung over to the pipe joint or section to be added. In other respects, the steps of the process are substantially identical in both adaptations of the invention herein specifically described, and while the bushing I 0, in the one case, is not carried by the grief or kelley and has to be detached from and replaced in the seat or socket 43 of the rotary table, there is great saving in time over the process heretofore employed in adding the pipe joints or sections to the string in the well.

In using the elevator and ball devices, as shown in Figure 13, after the pipe joint or section has been added to the string in the well, the elevator elements are readily unlatched and released respectively from the pipe joint or section 46 and the grief or kelley II, and swung by the catline or weight line to be engaged with another pipe joint or section to be added, and so Onarose-ass provided with 2. lug 54 near one side and a counterpart recess 55 at a corresponding place near its other side, said lug and recess interfltting when the sections are assembled, as shown in Figure 8, and functioning to relieve the outer collar member 30, of some of the relative lateral thrusts upon said half sections of the bushing, as well as facilitating the properassembly of the parts preparatory to applying the outer collar member 30.

Obviously, further modification of'the parts of the apparatus or appliances used in carrying out the process of the present invention may be made without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention, therefore,-

is, not limited to the specific appliances herein illustrated What is claimed is: a

1. The herein described bushing, having attaching ears or other suitable attaching means, said bushing comprising two half sections, the upper portion of the bushing being fittable in the rotary element of a well drilling rig, the lower portion of the bushing being reduced in diameter and externally screw-threaded, and a collar member internally screw-threaded to fit the threaded portion of the two' half sections when assembled.

2. The herein described bushing having attaching ears or other suitable attachingmeans, said bushing comprising two half sections, the upper portion of the bushing being fittable in the rotary element of a well drilling rig, the lower portion of the bushing being substantially'cylindrical and externally screw-threaded,'a collar member internally screw-threaded to fit the threaded portion of the two half sections when assembled, and the said collar member being substantially frusto-co'nical externally to fit the tapered seat in the rotary element.

3. The herein described bushing and elevator element, the bushing comprising two half sec-.

tions, the lower portion of the bushing being reduced in diameter and externally screw-threaded, a collar member internally screw-threaded to fit the threaded portion of the two half sections when assembled, the bushing having ears, and the elevator element having balls or the like for detachable attachment to the ears of the bush- 4. The herein described bushing having attaching ears or other suitable attaching means, said bushing comprising two half sections, and each of the half sections of the bushing having a lug and recess oppositely disposed for securing the two half sections together, the upper portion' of the bushing being fittable in the rotary element of a well drilling rig, the lower portion of the bushing being reduced in diameter and externally screw-threaded, and a collar member'internally screw-threaded to fit the threadedportion of the two half sections when assembled.

GEORGE F. LE BUS. 

